Characterization of Neck Strength in Healthy Young Adults.
Eva Catenaccio, Weiya Mu, Atira Kaplan and 11 others
PMID 28167302WHAT IT FOUND
Neck strength varies widely in healthy young adults and is significantly higher in men than women.
Anthropometric measures like weight or neck circumference correlate only modestly with strength. You cannot estimate a patient's neck strength from their body size; direct measurement is required.
Key findings
01Men exhibited significantly greater neck strength than women in all four directions tested.
02Anthropometric measures such as weight, height, and neck circumference only modestly correlate with neck strength.
03Peak neck strength ranged from 46–383 N in men and 24–223 N in women across four directions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was restricted to healthy adults aged 18–35, so results may not apply to older adults or those with neck pathology. The study used a custom fixed frame dynamometer. Normative data may not be comparable to clinics using handheld dynamometry or different equipment. Only maximal isometric contraction was measured. This does not assess neck endurance or rotational strength. The study did not include athletes specifically, though it aims to serve as a reference for athletic populations.
Declared interests
The text does not explicitly state funding sources or conflicts of interest, but notes the study was reviewed and approved by the local institutional review board.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a larger neck circumference indicates greater neck strength. The study found that anthropometric measures only modestly correlate with actual strength, meaning body size is a poor surrogate for functional capacity.